5 questions for Chris Pfeifer
Chris Pfeifer running for House of Represent ivies in 3A has said he's willing to answer some questions so here they are. Feel free to add any questions in comments
1. Are you for spending tax payer money of any kind for a Vikings stadium?
2. What is your campaign strategy, fundraising, lawn signs, internet?
3. Would you compare yourself more to Jesse Ventura, Tim Penny, or Peter Hutchinson?
4. Are you open to raising taxes?
5. Where can the most effective budget cuts be made?
While Chris has committed to this these questions are open to all candidates seeking Independence Party endorsement.
posted by mike @ 10:50 AM
7 Comments:
Mike, thank you for asking, my answers will be copies of answers I've given to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce for their Minnesota Prosperity project where applicable. Until some reader of your's (or you) complain I will try to give the most meaningful answer I can, hense the copying.
1. The federal budjet must undergo serious changes in the years to come. Federal taxes will increase markedly or federal funding will decrease markedly or both. Minnesota should start preparing for those changes now.
2a. (campaign stragtegy): To give the voters exactly what I am and what I think they want: a no-body from no-where speaking honestly. If I do it well free press will do the rest; forum on aug. 11, tv debate oct. 4 (so far).
b. (fundraising): Honest money has no honest place in honest politics.
c. (lawn signs): signs cost money, refer to (b.,above)
d. (internet): My IT guy is working on the site. When I filed with the mn sos office the site somehow came alive ahead of schedule. The basic message I'm spurting is there though; and no, I don't think spending $9.20 to have my own website violates my no-money stance.
3. I'm way too self-absorbed to compare myself to anyone.
4. no
5. We try to do too much with too little. Tax increases are economicaly bad choices. I have no idea what we should lop off, but something has to go. chris
You didn't answer the stadium question at all.
And I don't think a website, and the forum and tv debate are going to get your name out enough. How are you supposed to compete with your opponents when people don't know who you are? In my opinion, the average voter does not surf the the net to learn about candidates, nor does the average voter attend candidate forums, and few watch tv debates. But the average voter can't help but see lawn signs and bumper stickers. And you better be door knocking... or does that time spent equal
"honest" money lost?
I understand the no money position to an extent, but sometimes to beat the system, you have to work the system.
I am not satisfied with your answer to #3. Furthermore, you better get more informed on what to "lop off." People are going to want to hear specifics. Perhaps that is something you can do while you are not fundraising.
I'm fairly dissapointed with all your answers. Anyone can file for office, and run next to no campaign.
I'm all for no new taxes, but without a how and why it's a bunch of BS, and you know it.
We'll have to put you in the Bill Dahn, Doug Williams, and Adam Steele catagory for now.
Rachel, Mike, I don't know how to respond to your comments individually, so here my responses are together.
Rachel,
I meant my answer to answer the stadium question; I'll gladly clarify: No, I am not infavor of spending any public money on a vikings stadium. I think the federal budget is going to collapse soon (relativly speaking, 0 to 5yrs), and that the effect on our state budget will be severe, and that spending money now on projects like the stadium is a foolish waste of resources that will soon become much more precious. I agree with you on your next point; a website, a forum, and a debate are not going to get me far. I have only just begun, and have till November to raise winning numbers. I think that websites essentially preach to the choir, but intend to make mine so relevant that it gathers some free press coverage. The website also has a longer term purpose: to provide a premade web presence for future far northern minnesota ip candidates. The campaign's first meaningful event is the Aug. 11th forum (Hibbing). I am intending to do well and gather much free attention through this event. If I do not do well, or am eclisped by some other candidate, a different path will be necessary. And yes, knocking on the doors of voters across my district does equal spending a lot of money (3a is a considerably bigger than average district) and is therefore out of the question.
As to the comparison question: I am nothing like any of the choices offered.
As to the "lopping off" specifics: I think that our state needs to be prepared to cover out of its own pockets expenses now federally funded, drastic state budget reformation is needed. I don't think the rest of the legislature is going to listen to me on this subject if I am elected. The specifics for something that is not going to happen are unimportant.
Finally to be crystal clear about fundraising: Our system is broken. Fundraising is part of the problem. I won't do it.
chris pfeifer
Mike,
As to your "anyone can..." comment: The real numbers say you're wrong, so much so that it is not unheard of for incumbants to go unopposed. Yes, in theory, any old nutcase could imagine themselves a politician, find themselves not up to the challenge, and go no-where fast. My campaign is all about getting elected without being part of the perversion of democracy that is our modern system.
As to the BS accusation: you're wrong again; if the current trends continue our state can continue to provide the mediocre service it provides now without raising taxes (revenues are going up). I see no good reason to raise more money only to use it unwisely while slowing business expansion by the act of raising taxes.
chris pfeifer
So your saying you can't work with a Governor Hutchinson, your saying you can't work with a Red Nelson or Ron Leschied? If you can't then your part of the problem. You accessed my parties ballot line, as far as I can tell you are not a member of my party, that might be fine except you don't intend to run a campaign.
What the heck are you going to tell the voters when they ask for specifics? That
Mike, I will be glad to work with anyone with a usefull purpose. While I personally am 100% against any and all fundraising, I do favor the IP's campaign finance reform position. Indeed I agree with nearly all of the party's planks. It is unfortunate that our party has attracted more than its fair share of right wing extremists. I think the party has plenty of room for me, a left wing moderate with strong populist leanings. And yes, I do very much intend on running an active and successful campaign; I'm in uncharted waters, to the best of my knowledge no-one has run the kind of campaign I want to run before.
As to the unfinished question: I'll guess it was about taxes; I will tell the voters the truth: I am against raising taxes, I think big problems loom ahead for our state budget, I would like to be there to at least agitate for state contingency plans in the event of a federal budget collapse, and finally that when my (hopefully) fellow legislators are ready to talk serious budget reform I'll be ready to contribute to the effort. chris
Mike, I will be glad to work with anyone with a usefull purpose. While I personally am 100% against any and all fundraising, I do favor the IP's campaign finance reform position. Indeed I agree with nearly all of the party's planks. It is unfortunate that our party has attracted more than its fair share of right wing extremists. I think the party has plenty of room for me, a left wing moderate with strong populist leanings. And yes, I do very much intend on running an active and successful campaign; I'm in uncharted waters, to the best of my knowledge no-one has run the kind of campaign I want to run before.
As to the unfinished question: I'll guess it was about taxes; I will tell the voters the truth: I am against raising taxes, I think big problems loom ahead for our state budget, I would like to be there to at least agitate for state contingency plans in the event of a federal budget collapse, and finally that when my (hopefully) fellow legislators are ready to talk serious budget reform I'll be ready to contribute to the effort. chris
Post a Comment
<< Home